Apparatus and method for dispensing protective hand covers

ABSTRACT

A protective hand cover dispenser is placed and secured on the inside of a fuel tank cap door and provides disposable protective hand covers worn while refueling an automobile. The use of the protective hand covers prevents gasoline from adhering to an operator&#39;s hands and can also prevent the spread of germs. The protective hand cover dispenser holds a roll of protective hand covers that are easily accessible by a person refueling an automobile.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

n/a

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

n/a

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for dispensing protective hand coverings and particularly for supplying disposable protective hand coverings for the prevention of contact with chemicals while introducing fuel into an automobile fuel tank.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Automobiles are ubiquitous in our society. Because of their constant use, refueling is a common occurrence. Gasoline used to fuel automobiles is highly volatile and has a strong, undesirable odor. Small amounts of gasoline are unavoidably found on gasoline pumps, but even small amounts of gasoline produce a very strong odor. As a result, even when care is taken, a person's hands often are exposed to gasoline and retain the unpleasant odor of gasoline after refueling an automobile. This odor is difficult to remove and it is impractical to thoroughly wash one's hands after refueling an automobile.

The unwanted gasoline odor often lingers on a person's hands and creates a substantial annoyance. It is also unsanitary and dangerous as accidental ingestion of gasoline may be toxic. The odor may make eating or drinking immediately after refueling an automobile unpleasant and unsafe.

Gasoline dispensing handles are left in the open and contacted by many users. Thus, the handles of gasoline hoses themselves are unsanitary. It is not practical to thoroughly clean the handle of a gasoline dispenser and as a result, germs and disease are readily spread through contact with gas pumps and handles. When an electric automobile is recharged, there is less concern regarding unpleasant odors. However, they are just as likely to spread germs and to otherwise be unsanitary.

To avoid retaining the unpleasant odor, or to avoid unsanitary conditions, a person may wear protective hand covers while refueling an automobile. However, the protective hand covers themselves will acquire the odor of gasoline. If kept in an automobile, the protective hand covers will cause the entire automobile to smell like gasoline.

Protective hand covers kept in an automobile are not readily available for use when accessing a fuel tank. As a result, they are often forgotten and remain unused. If remembered, an operator must retrieve them from the trunk or other compartment of the automobile. These extra steps make proper hand protection inconvenient and many operators simply fail to adequately protect themselves.

In light of the above shortcomings, it would be desirable to provide a system and method for preventing gasoline and other material from contacting a person's hands while refueling an automobile. It would further be desirable to provide a system for conveniently dispensing protective, disposable protective hand covers when refueling an automobile.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention advantageously provides a method and system for supplying disposable protective hand coverings proximal to the intake of an automobile gas tank. The invention provides convenient accessibility to protective hand covers to facilitate adequate protection of a person's hands when exposed to petroleum fluids.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a protective hand cover dispenser attachable to an interior surface of a fuel tank cap door, is provided. The dispenser includes at least one of a first cord and a second cord each having a securing device at each end, and a spool for receiving at least one hand cover, the spool removably affixed to the at least one of a first cord and a second cord.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a protective hand cover dispenser attachable to an interior surface of a fuel tank cap door is provided. The dispenser includes a spool apparatus for receiving and securing at least one hand cover, and a support base connecting the spool apparatus to the interior surface of the fuel tank cap door.

In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, a protective hand cover dispenser attachable to an interior surface of a fuel tank cap door is provided where the dispenser includes a receptacle for housing at least one hand cover, the receptacle including a dispensing aperture for providing access to the at least one hand cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of a protective hand cover dispenser constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the protective hand cover dispenser of FIG. 1 engaged with a fuel tank cap door and a roll of protective hand covers;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the protective hand cover dispenser constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 4 is front perspective view of the protective hand cover dispenser of FIG. 3 engaged with a roll of protective hand covers;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the protective hand cover dispenser constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 6 is front perspective view of the protective hand cover dispenser of FIG. 5 engaged with a roll of protective hand covers;

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of yet another embodiment of the protective hand cover dispenser constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the protective hand cover dispenser of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a cut-away view of the protective hand cover dispenser of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of an another embodiment of the protective hand cover dispenser constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of a roll of protective hand covers being inserted into of the protective hand cover of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of the protective hand cover of FIG. 9 including a roll of protective hand covers within.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As used herein, relational terms, such as “first” and “second,” “top” and “bottom,” and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationship or order between such entities or elements.

Referring now to the drawing figures in which like reference designators refer to like elements, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A protective hand cover dispenser 10 comprises a first cord 12 and a second cord 14. Both the first cord 12 and the second cord 14 have securing devices 16 at each end. In other embodiments, only one cord or a plurality of cords can be used in order to accommodate differently designed fuel tank caps and fuel tank interior surfaces. Thus, this embodiment of the invention is not limited to a specific number of cords and encompasses one to many cords. Securing devices 16 could be hooks, fasteners or other mechanisms that can be removably affixed to the other or inner surface of fuel tank cap door 18, securing dispenser 10 therein. In this embodiment, the securing devices are hooks, but other devices for securing the ends of cords to a fuel tank cap door 18 are also suitable. The first cord 12 and the second cord 14 may both be flexible and/or elastic. The first cord 12 and the second cord 14 may be similar to bungee cords often utilized for securing or fastening objects, to bear weight and/or absorb shock and may be of an elastomeric material.

The first cord 12 has an elongate, cylindrical spool 20 attached thereto via a collar 22 that provides secure attachment to the first cord 12 and extends outward from the first cord 12. Optionally, other methods of attaching the spool 20 to the first cord 12 may be used. The spool 20 may be substantially rigid and substantially cylindrical. Optionally, the spool 20 may have a polygonal cross section instead of a cylindrical shape and may also optionally be flexible. In this embodiment, spool 20 is permanently affixed to cord 12 by collar 22. Optionally, spool 20 may be removably connected to cord 12. The spool 20 may also be removably connectable to the second cord 14. In this embodiment, the spool 20 includes a mortise 24, or hole, at its distal end in order to facilitate connection to the second cord 14.

The second cord 14 may have a tenon 26, or dowel, for facilitating removable connection of the spool 20 to the second cord 14. The tenon 26 may be attached to the second cord 14 by a collar 28. The tenon 26 is sized to tightly, but removably, fit into the mortise 24. The tenon 26 may optionally be tapered at its distal end to facilitate insertion into the mortise 24. In this embodiment, the mortise 24 and the tenon 26 both have a circular cross section. Optionally, the mortise 24 and the tenon 26 may have a polygonal shaped cross section such that they fit together in a manner similar to an Allen wrench and an Allen socket.

Optionally, the protective hand cover dispenser 10 may utilize alternative connection devices, for example a nut and bolt, a clamp, a latch, a hook or any other method suitable for removably connecting the spool 20 to the second cord 14. Optionally, the first cord 12 and the second cord 14 may have spools extending outward from their respective cords and be joined together.

FIG. 2 shows the protective hand cover dispenser 10 attached to the interior of a fuel tank cap door 18 and holding a roll of protective hand covers 30. The protective hand covers may be small plastic bags rolled together and connected by perforated lines that allow a single protective hand cover to be separated from the roll by tugging or pulling with sufficient force. The roll of protective hand covers 30 may be similar to the small plastic bags utilized to collect animal waste or other plastic bag rolls. Alternatively, the roll of protective hand covers 30 may be more specifically formed to fit a human hand.

The protective hand covers may be plastic or other material that is sufficiently impermeable to gasoline for at least a short time period. The protective hand covers may optionally be impermeable to bacteria, viruses, contaminants and other germs. Optionally, the protective hand covers may include an antiseptic material or chemical such that the protective hand covers are sterile and optionally partially antiseptic. The protective hand covers may thus inhibit the transmission of bacteria and other germs through contact with a gasoline or other dispensing handle.

In one embodiment, first cord 12 and the second cord 14 are attachable to the inside surface 32 of a fuel tank cap door 18, in the manner shown in FIG. 2. The first cord 12 and the second cord 14 when in a relaxed orientation may have lengths less than the dimensions of the fuel tank cap door 18 such that they may be pulled partially taut when their securing devices 16 are placed on opposite sides of the fuel tank cap door 18, thus securing the protective hand cover dispenser 10 in place. The roll of protective hand covers 30 fits about the spool 20. After the roll of protective hand covers 30 is placed about the spool 20, the spool 20 may be connected to the second cord 14. In this embodiment, the spool 20 may be connected to the cord 14 using the mortise 24 and the tenon 26, thereby securing the protective hand cover roll on the spool 20. In this embodiment, securing devices 16 have been placed proximal to one another to create bias in the cord 12 and the cord 14 toward each other. This facilitates a secure connection between the spool 20 and the second cord 14. Optionally, the securing devices 16 may be placed equidistantly from each other about the edge 34 of the fuel tank cap door 18.

The first cord 12 and the second cord 14 may not be completely taut when attached to a fuel tank cap door 18 as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, first cord 12 and second cord 14 may still have some elasticity such that they may be pulled away from the inside surface 32 of the fuel tank cap door 18. This may allow an operator to access objects or devices on the inside surface 32 of the fuel tank cap door 18 located behind the roll of protective hand covers 30. Optionally, additional cords, transoms, lintels or other devices that may or may not be flexible and/or elastic may be used to connect the first cord 12 and the second cord 14 to each other.

Because the first cord 12 and the second cord 14 may be pulled partially taut against the inside surface 32 of the fuel tank cap door 18, the roll of protective hand covers 30 may be held stationary by friction. This may prevent the roll of protective hand covers 30 from unrolling accidentally. This may also provide sufficient resistance to allow a person to sharply tug at the roll of protective hand covers 30 in order to release a single protective hand cover attached by a perforated line to the roll of protective hand covers 30.

Thus, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a user would first disengage spool 20 from either cord, load a roll of hand covers around the spool 20, and then reattach the spool 20 such that the roll of hand covers is secured between the two cords. The dispenser 10 is then secured to the inside of the fuel tank cap door 18 by affixing the securing devices 16 to points along the outer perimeter of door 18. The dimensions of dispenser 10 are such that dispenser 10 and a roll of hand covers secured around spool 20 can be situated within the inside of fuel tank cap door 18 when door 18 is closed. A user, when it is time to dispense gas, simply opens door 18 and removes one of the hand covers around spool 20 prior to reaching for the gas pump. Advantageously, dispenser 10 remains securely affixed to door 18 when a cover is removed from spool 20. Due to the elasticity of cords 12 and 14, the user can gently pull on dispenser 10 and, if necessary, store a gas cap on the interior of the tank door 18.

FIG. 3 shows an alternate embodiment of a protective hand cover dispenser 10 of the present invention having a spool apparatus that includes an elongate, cylindrical rod 42 extending from a platform 44 that may be securely and rigidly attached to the inside surface 32 of fuel tank cap door 18 by a base 50 and a support arm 52. In one embodiment, support arm 52 is rotatable with respect to base 50 to allow for the rotation of rod 42 to conform to the space constraints within the fuel tank doors of certain model vehicles. In another embodiment, support arm 52 is affixed directly to the interior surface 32 of fuel tank door 18. The rod 42 may be cylindrical or may optionally have a non-circular cross-section. The platform 44 in this embodiment may be planar and substantially circular but may optionally be square, rectangular, elliptical or other shape.

The base 50 may be attached to the inside surface 32 of the fuel tank cap door 18 by any means of secure attachment including glue, welding, bolting, magnets, suction cups, opposing hook and loop materials, or the like. The base 50 may optionally be incorporated as an integral part of the fuel tank cap door 18 during manufacture, or may be retrofitted using the above or other attachment methods. Optionally, support arm 52 may be rotatably attached to the base 50 and may include one or more pivotable elbows such that rod 42 may be positioned in a variety of positions.

FIG. 4 shows a roll of protective hand covers 30 inserted onto the rod 42. The roll of protective hand covers 30 slides down the length of the rod 42 and rests upon the platform 44. This allows the roll of protective hand covers 30 to rotate freely about the rod 42. Optionally, rod 42 may be sufficiently thick in order to provide frictional resistance to the rotation of the roll of protective hand covers 30 and allow a single protective hand cover to be detached from the roll of protective hand covers 30 using a pulling motion. Optionally, other methods as described herein may be used to create frictional resistance to the rotation of the roll of protective hand covers 30, thereby allowing a user to tear off a single sheet from the roll without disturbing the roll upon the rod 42.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show an alternate embodiment of a protective hand cover dispenser 10 of the present invention. In this embodiment the spool apparatus for receiving and securing one or more hand covers 30 includes a first support arm 66 with a first securing knob 70 for supporting one end of a roll of hand covers 30, a second support arm 68 with a second securing knob 72 for supporting another end of a roll of hand covers 30. Support base 60 connects the spool apparatus to the interior surface 32 of the fuel tank cap door 18. In this embodiment, the first support arm 66 and the second support arm 68 may be substantially C-shaped. First knob 70 and second knob 72 face each other and are arranged so that a roll of protective hand covers 30 may be securely mounted on the first knob 70 and the second knob 72 such that it may be held by and between the first support arm 66 and the second support arm 68. The first support arm 66 and the second support arm 68 may be sufficiently flexible that they may be pulled apart in order to affix a roll of protective hand covers 30 on the first knob 70 and the second knob 72.

Optionally, the first support arm 66 and the second support arm 68 may be hinged in order to affix a roll of protective hand covers 30 onto the first knob 70 and the second knob 72. Optionally, only the first support arm 66 and the first knob 70 or the second support arm 68 and knob 72 extend from the base 60. In another embodiment, first knob 70 may be pivotably connected to the first support arm 66. Optionally, the protective hand cover dispenser 10 may include a first support arm 66 extending from the base 60, a second support arm 68 extending from the base 60 and a first knob 70 extending between the first support arm 66 and the second support arm 68.

Protective hand cover dispenser 10 may include a shelf 74 for supporting a roll of protective hand covers 30 mounted on the protective hand cover dispenser 10. The first support arm 66 and the second support arm 68 may be pulled downward by the weight of a roll of protective hand covers 30. The shelf 74 may support some or all of the weight of a roll of protective hand covers 30 affixed to the protective hand cover dispenser 10. Optionally, protective hand cover dispenser 10 also includes a friction pad 76 that may be compressible and may exert a force upon a roll of protective hand covers 30 when mounted on protective hand cover dispenser 10. By applying friction to an affixed roll of protective hand covers 30, the friction pad 76 allows a single protective hand cover to be removed by applying a sharp tug. A quick tug, coupled with the friction applied by the friction pad 76 causes a single protective hand cover to be released from the roll of protective hand covers 30 along, for example, a perforated line. In this embodiment, friction pad 76 extends from base 60. Optionally, one or more friction pads 76 may be used and may be located on the shelf 74 and/or one or both of the first support arm 66 and the second support arm 68.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show yet another embodiment of protective hand cover dispenser 10 comprising a cylindrical housing 80 having a hand cover retention member 82 extending a portion of the length of the housing 80. A roll of protective hand covers may be inserted into the housing 80 about hand cover retention member 82 and dispensed through the dispensing aperture 84. The protective hand cover dispenser 10 optionally may not include hand cover retention member 82. Alternately, the protective hand cover dispenser 10 may have a lid removably attachable to the top of the housing 80 by which the hand covers can be removed. The housing 80 need not be cylindrical and may have another shape.

The dispensing aperture 84 is surrounded by a rim 86 and a plurality of flexible prongs 88. The prongs 88 generate sufficient friction on a protective hand cover being pulled through the aperture 84 that it may be separated from a roll of protective hand covers within the housing 80 along a perforated line and prevent unwanted or extra hand covers from being extracted. The housing 80 has a base 90 attached to the inside surface 32 of fuel tank cap door 18. In one embodiment, retention member 82 is rotatable with respect to base 90. The base 90 is connected to the housing 80 by a support arm 94. The support arm 94 may optionally be rotatable or pivotable to allow positioning of the protective hand cover dispenser 10 in a variety of configurations. Housing 80 is sized to retain a roll of hand coverings while being of a low profile in order to fit between the gas tank cap and the interior of the tank door 18, when closed.

FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 show still another embodiment of the protective hand cover dispenser 10 of the present invention. Dispenser 10 includes a receptacle 100 attached to the inside surface 32 of a fuel tank cap door 18 at a base 106. The base 106 may be attached to the inside surface 32 of the fuel tank cap door 18 by any of a variety of methods and may be rotatable as described above. The receptacle 100 may be made of a flexible, pliable, elastomeric material, such as for example rubber, and may have an aperture 108. Because the receptacle 100 is made of a flexible material, a roll of protective hand covers 30 may be easily inserted into the aperture 108 by stretching the receptacle 100 as shown in FIG. 11. Once a roll of protective hand covers 30 is inside the receptacle 100 as shown in FIG. 12, a single protective hand cover 112 may be removed from the roll of protective hand covers by pulling a single protective hand cover through the aperture 108. The receptacle 100 may fit tightly about the roll of protective hand covers, thereby imparting friction. As a result, a single protective hand cover 112 may be pulled free using a rapid tug that allows a single protective hand cover to tear free from the roll of protective hand covers along for example a perforated line. Optionally, an end 110 may include a removable lid to allow a roll of protective hand covers to be inserted into the receptacle 100 and removed by the user for use prior to dispensing gas.

In operation, a hand cover dispensing device of the invention provides access to disposable hand covers when the gas cap door covering the access to a fuel tank is opened. A hand cover may be readily accessed and used. Due to this advantageous placement, a person is reminded of the need for a hand cover at an appropriate time to apply one to a hand. If an automobile operates on electricity, then the hand cover dispenser may be placed on the inside of the door covering a socket for transferring electric charge. This provides access to a hand cover when an operator is about to contact a publicly available apparatus for adding a charge to an electric battery or other electric storage device. The hand cover may be used to prevent the transfer of germs or other unwanted materials from a recharging handle to a person's hand.

In another embodiment, the dispenser can be designed to be affixed to other locations of the vehicle. For example, battery powered cars include charging ports underneath the car hood. The dispenser of the present invention can be affixed underneath the hood to conveniently allow the user to extract a hand cover when recharging their car. Although fuel is not the concern here, the hand cover dispenser of the present invention advantageously protects the user's hands against germs that might be found on the charging cord at electric car charging stations.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims. 

1. A protective hand cover dispenser attachable to an interior surface of a fuel tank cap door comprising: at least one of a first cord and a second cord each having a securing device at each end; and a spool for receiving at least one hand cover, the spool removably affixed to the at least one of a first cord and a second cord.
 2. The protective hand cover dispenser of claim 1, wherein the spool is removably affixed to the at least one of a first cord and a second cord by a first collar.
 3. The protective hand cover dispenser of claim 2, wherein the spool further comprises a mortise at a distal end and at least one of the first cord and the second cord further comprises a second collar having a tenon insertable into the mortise.
 4. The protective hand cover dispenser of claim 1, wherein the at least one of a first cord and a second cord is made of elastic material.
 5. The protective hand cover dispenser of claim 4, wherein the protective hand cover dispenser is partially biased toward the interior surface of the fuel tank cap door when the securing devices are secured to an exterior surface of the fuel tank cap door.
 6. The protective hand cover dispenser of claim 1, wherein the at least one hand cover prevents the spread of germs.
 7. A protective hand cover dispenser attachable to an interior surface of a fuel tank cap door comprising: a spool apparatus for receiving and securing at least one hand cover; and a support base connecting the spool apparatus to the interior surface of the fuel tank cap door.
 8. The protective hand cover dispenser of claim 7, wherein the spool apparatus comprises: a hand cover receiving member; a support platform connected to one end of the hand cover receiving member; and a support arm connected at one end to the support base and at another end to the support platform.
 9. The protective hand cover dispenser of claim 8, wherein the support arm is rotatable with respect to the support base.
 10. The protective hand cover dispenser of claim 8, wherein the hand cover receiving member extends substantially vertically upward from the support platform.
 11. The protective hand cover dispenser of claim 7, where the spool apparatus comprises a first support arm and a second support arm, the first and second support arms each including a hand cover receiving member at its distal end.
 12. The protective hand cover dispenser of claim 11, further comprising a friction pad that contacts the hand covers when the hand covers are secured within the hand cover receiving members.
 13. The protective hand cover dispenser of claim 12, further comprising a support flange extending from the support base.
 14. A protective hand cover dispenser attachable to an interior surface of a fuel tank cap door comprising a receptacle for housing at least one hand cover, the receptacle including a dispensing aperture for providing access to the at least one hand cover.
 15. The protective hand cover dispenser of claim 14, further comprising a base attached to the interior surface of the fuel tank cap door, the receptacle attached to the base.
 16. The protective hand cover dispenser of claim 15, wherein the receptacle is rotatable with respect to the base.
 17. The protective hand cover dispenser of claim 14, further comprising at least one prong positioned within the aperture for preventing unwanted hand covers from being extracted through the aperture.
 18. The protective hand cover dispenser of claim 14, further comprising a hand cover retention member within the housing.
 19. The protective hand cover dispenser of claim 14, wherein the receptacle is pliable to allow for hand covers to be inserted within the receptacle.
 20. The protective hand cover dispenser of claim 14, wherein the housing further comprises a removable cover. 